Combined automobile tail-light and illuminated number.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Patented Feb. 1. 4, 1911.

ma v [I] H III INVENTOR 712 dar/c/fi 5: Sfaffol'af m mwr mw.

HIM

illllll a Z Q F,S.STAPPORD. COMBINED AUTOMOBILE TAIL LIGHT AND ILLUMINATED NUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.Z1, 1910.

WITNESSES: a. :5. 5- W);

. S. STAFFORD. GOMBINED' AUTOMOBILE TAIL LIGHT AND ILLUMINATED NUMBER.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.21, 1910.

- Patented Feb. 14', 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR FREDERICK S. STAFFORD, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

COMBINED AUTOMOBILE TAIL-LIGHT AND ILLUMINATED NUMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.1.

Application filed February 21, 1910. Serial No. 544,981.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. STAF- rom), a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Combined Automobile Tail-Lights and Illuminated Numbers,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in combined automobile tail lights and illuminated numbers. Its object is to provide a frame to receive an automobile number, which number will be so illumihated that it may be read for a considerable distance.

Another object is to provide a hollow casing adapted to receive a glass plate bearing the number of the automobile, the source of light being placed within said casing to illuminate the number.

A further object is to provide said casing with a window fitted with red glass through which the light from said source will pass forming a danger signal.

A still further object is to provide means by which said glass plates which carry numerals forming the number will be made interchangeable.

Finally, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the cha'acter described that will be strong, durable, simple and etliciont, and comparatively easy to construct, and also one which will not be likely to out. of working order.

With these and various other objects in view my invention has relation to certain novel features of the construction and operation, an example of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein F igure 1 is a front View of the herein described device showing one of the glass plates partiallyi' removed from its frame.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line a1-ac of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail cross section taken oiLthe line y-y of Fig;

1. Fig. 4- is a detail view of one of the double springs which are employed to exert pressure upon the glass plates to hold them firmly in their frame. Fig. 5 is a front view of a slightly modified form of the invention which may be attached to an ordinary automobile tail lamp and illuminated thereby.

In this View only a door of the lamp'is shown, thc lamp itself belng thought unnecessary to an understanding of the lnven tion. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same. Fi 7 is a bottom view of the modified device detached from thcjcloor of the lamp. i it Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in all the figures, the numeral 1 denotes a rectangular frame of approximately U-shaped cross section which forms the front of the hollow casing within which the source of light is placed, said frame being adapted to receive a'number of glassplates 2, each of which carries one of the numerals forming the automobile number. A number of vertical ribs 3 of T-shaped cross-section are vertically positioned in the frame 1 and serve to divide it into a number of compartments each of which is adapted to receive one of said glass plates. The ribs 3 will preferably'have the composite construction illustrated in Fig. 3, which construction is adapted to afford the maximum strength. Each of the ribs 3 is. positioned with its portion 3 toward the rear forming a partition between the glass plates 2. Upon the portion 3 of each rib adjacent to the top thereof there is mounted a double spring a the two parts of which, passing on each side of the portion 3, are adapted to bear against the glass plates 2.

In the. rear of the frame 1 is secured a re tlector 5, the walls of whichslopeto a common point. At this point there is mounted an incandescent bulb (3 in a suitable socket 7. In the reflector 5 there is provided a slot extending longitudinally thereof near its lowcredge. 'lhrough this slot the plates 2 are introduced into the frame, their upper edges being passed under the springs 4i, and forced into the upper portion of the frame. The plate is then released permitting its l( \ver edge to drop into the lower portion of the fronts 1. In order that the upper edge of the plate will not escape from contact with the upper portion of the frame, the/upper edge of the frame given a width greater than that of the lower edge thereof. A circular frame 9 centrally mounted upon the top of the rectangular frame 1 is adapted to receive a glass plate 10, which glass will be prefc ably dish-shaped and of a red color. The. lamp 6 ,will serve both to illuminate the numbers carried by the glass plate 3 and to throw a colored light through the glass 10 forming adanger signal.

In the modified form of this device illus' sition, and projecting perpendicularly there from, any suitable means being employed to form a rigid attachment. A semi-circular plate which is secured to that extremity of the frame 1 adjacent to the door serves front of the frame.

to prevent light escaping from the lamp in A curved reflector 16 secured to the rear surface of the frame 1 has a semi-cylindrical shade adjacent to the door of the lamp, permitting a maximum amount of light to enter the casing from the lamp, and at the other end said reflector gradually reduces to a plane surface. A slot 8 as previously described is provided in the lower edge of this reflector to permit the .glass plates 2 to be introduced into the frame 1. This modified form of the invention is ofa cheaper construction and eliminates the necessity of a source of electric light. It may be attached to any of the or Idinary oil-burning lamps which are at present used'to illuminate the numbers of automobiles.

I am aware that changes may be made in i the form and proportion of parts and details lates each of which carries a numeral of P 1 a frame, a plurality of T-shaped ribs vertically mounted in said frame and forming compartments therein, each of which compartments is adapted, to receive one of said plates, bifurcated springs mounted upon the upper portions of said ribs and bearing upon said plates, a reflector secured to the rear of said frame, a source of light adapted to illuminate said reflector, and a means adapted to prevent light from said source from passing in front of said frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK STAFFORD. Witnesses:

J. S. MURRAY, EUGENIA HENSLEY. 

